Long before Brad Pitt hit the track in “F1: The Movie”, he was gearing up for a different kind of racing film — one that almost teamed him up with Tom Cruise.
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)In a new interview with The National, Pitt opened up about the time he and Cruise were set to co-star in “Ford v Ferrari”, long before the version starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale hit the screen.
“Tom and I, for a while there, were on Ford v Ferrari with Joe [Kosinski] to direct,” Pitt said. “This was about 10 years before the guys who actually made it — and made it a great movie.”
Why Pitt-Cruise Walked Away from ‘Ford v Ferrari’
According to Pitt, both actors were excited about the film, but ultimately stepped away when they realized the roles didn’t align with what they’d envisioned.
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)“What it came down to is that we both wanted to drive,” Pitt explained. “He wanted to play Shelby, and I wanted to play Ken Miles. And when Tom realized that Carroll Shelby would not be driving much in the movie, it didn’t come through.”
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)The roles eventually went to Matt Damon (as Carroll Shelby) and Christian Bale (as Ken Miles), with James Mangold stepping in to direct the Oscar-winning 2019 film.
Brad Pitt Talks F1 Sequel, Driving Scenes, and His Love for Racing
Now starring in “F1: The Movie”, Pitt said he’s still hooked on the adrenaline — and wouldn’t mind staying in the driver’s seat a little longer.
(Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)“I would want to drive again, selfishly speaking,” he said of a potential F1 sequel. However, his character Sonny Hayes exits the Formula One world by the film’s end.
“F1 is still the focus. It needs to be on Joshua Pierce — Damson Idris’ character — and the rest of the team fighting for a championship,” Pitt said.
“Where does Sonny fit in? I’m not sure. Sonny’s probably out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting speed records or something like that.”
Could There Be a Days of Thunder Sequel?
Though F1 is top of mind, Pitt also hinted at wanting to collaborate with Cruise again — and even teased interest in revisiting one of Cruise’s classic racing films.
The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that Cruise was exploring a sequel to his 1990 NASCAR film “Days of Thunder.”
(Photo by Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)Pitt seemed game, saying he’d love to work with Cruise again in the future.
Red Carpet Reunion: Pitt and Cruise Together Again
While they didn’t share the screen in “Ford v Ferrari”, the two A-listers recently reunited in London. Cruise made a surprise appearance at the “F1: The Movie” premiere, joining and supporting Pitt on the red carpet at Leicester Square.
(Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images)The pair greeted each other warmly, hugging and posing for photos in matching suits and sunglasses, thrilled to be back in each other’s orbit.
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